Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad: A Refreshing Healthy Delight Recipe
This Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad is a vibrant and healthy dish featuring fluffy quinoa tossed with fresh vegetables, crunchy peanuts and sesame seeds, all brought together with a zesty Thai-inspired dressing. It’s a refreshing, protein-packed salad perfect for light lunches or as a side dish to your favorite meals.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
Dressing
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Quinoa: In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for about 15 minutes until the quinoa is fluffy and all the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Prepare the Salad Mix: In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa with diced red bell pepper, diced cucumber, shredded carrots, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro, chopped peanuts, and sesame seeds, mixing thoroughly to evenly distribute all ingredients.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lime juice, honey, sesame oil, freshly grated ginger, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the dressing over the quinoa and vegetable mixture. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure everything is evenly coated with the flavorful dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld beautifully. Serve chilled or at room temperature for the best refreshing taste.
Notes
- Rinsing quinoa before cooking removes the natural bitter coating, improving flavor.
- Feel free to substitute peanuts with cashews or almonds if preferred.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red chili flakes or finely chopped fresh chili to the dressing.
- This salad stores well in the refrigerator for up to 2 days but is best enjoyed fresh.
- To keep the salad crunchy, add peanuts and sesame seeds just before serving if storing longer.
Keywords: Thai quinoa salad, healthy quinoa salad, gluten free quinoa salad, crunchy quinoa salad, Thai dressing salad
